Tag: CGT asset

Contrbuting to superannuation is still as popular as ever. Personal (voluntary) contributions in the December 2016 quarter (the latest available statistics) were $4,616 billion, up from $4,437 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. Superannuation assets in aggregate were $2,199 billion at the end of the December 2016 quarter, up from the previous quarter which was $2,145 billion, and are now at an all time historical record level. Over the 12 months to December 2016, there was a 7.4% increase in total superannuation assets.

This section details why, even in spite of recent unfavorable changes, contribution to superannuation is still so popular.

Tax ConcessionsSuperannuation is a concessionally taxed environment. This was highlighted in early 2017, when the Government released its Tax Expenditiurs Statement which stated that in total superannuation tax concessions cost the Government $38.85 billion in revenue in the previous financial year. These tax concessions which make superannution so attractive as an investment include:CONCESSIONAL TAXATION OF EARNINGSSuperannuation earnings (such as interest, dividends, rent etc.) are taxed at 15% when your account is in accumulation mode (i.e. not in pension mode). These earnings are txax-free when your account is in pension mode. This concessional taxation cost the Government $16.85 billion in foregone revenue in 2015/2016. By contrast, investment earnings on assets (such as shares,property, term deposits etc.) held outside of superannuation are taxed at your marginal tax rate.Note that your tax liability outside of superannuation may be further reduced by tax offsets such as those for low-income earners and pensioners.

CONCESSIONAL TAXATION OF CAPITAL GAINSCapital gains made by superannuation funds are likewise taxed at 15% when your account is in accumulation mode. Where a CGT asset supports a pension, any capital gain made when those assets are sold is tax-free. On the other hand, if the CGT asset was held by one of the following entities it would be taxed as follows:

Individual – marginal tax rate

Company – 30% (or 27.5% for a Small Business Entity)

Trust – marginal tax rate of individual.

The tax on a capital gain made by your superannuation is reduced to 10% (a 33% discount) where the asset has been held for 12 months or more. Although this is a lesser discount than the 50% discount available to trusts and individuals, this is negated by the base CGT superannuation taxation reate being so low at 15%.

Cut Your Income TaxTAX DEDUCTION FOR CONCESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONSSubject to age limits, from 1 Jly 2017 almost all individuals can now claim a tax deduction for their personal concessional (after-tax) contributions that they make to superannuation. Before this date, most employees were unable to do this.